The Hidden Story of the Hopes, Fears and Desires of a Nation

Modern graffiti is often seen as transgressive and moronic. However, look closely in the light of a torch at the walls of our historic buildings, trees, caves and rockfaces and you will see a world of graffiti left that illuminates the psychology of our ancestors. The study of historic graffiti enables us to hear the lost voices of ordinary individuals through their images of daisywheels, ships sailing across the walls, knights drawing their swords, demons stalking the stonework and every animal imaginable….

James Wright is an archaeologist, lecturer and author currently based at the University of Nottingham. With over twenty years of professional experience, he has published two books plus a string of popular and academic articles based on extensive research of the British Mediaeval and Early Modern periods. He makes regular appearances for the BBC and has acted as an archaeological consultant for Channel 4’s Time Team.